Words matter: how ecologists discuss managed and non-managed bees and birds

Abstract Effectively promoting the stability and quality of ecosystem services involves successful management domesticated species control introduced species. In pollinator literature, interest concern regarding health dramatically increased in recent years. Concurrently, use loaded terms when discussing non-native may have increased. As a result, ecology has inherited both confusion associated with invasion biology’s lack standardized terminology to describe native, managed, or as well very strong positive negative connotations. The explosion research on native bees alternative pollinators, coupled language, led perceived divide between bee managed researchers. comparison, bird literature discusses study (poultry) non-managed (all other birds) without an apparent conflict regard connotations sentiment. Here, we analyze word usage 3614 ecological evolutionary biology papers published 1990 2019. Using time series analyses, demonstrate how specific descriptor (such wild, introduced, exotic) changed over time. We then conducted co-citation network analyses determine whether that share references similar predicted language bias towards found association term invasive bumble observed significant increases more ambiguous species, such wild . detected sentiment area pathogen spillover bees, which corroborates subjectivity carries. recommend using acknowledge role human activities biological invasions. Avoiding will advance our understanding promote effective productive communication across scientists, general public, policy makers stake holders society.